Test Animation With Norman Rig & Exploring Research

Started a test animation using the Norman Rig from the 11secondclub. Enjoying the Control of the rig, Though i can't  seem to make full use of it because I keep forgetting what does what.  Made some thumbnails on a small scene to make out based on dialogue.

Which goes:

Character1 "Ok, How Do you suggest we get by the guards"

Character2  "Ah! That is why I brought this"

Instead of Animating to recorded dialogue which suggested by Ed hooks can cause over animating. I planned the thumbnails with gestures and movements I expected would happen and then animated those making the characters facial expression  over attempting lip syncing. However the process of animating is going slower than hoped for a test mostly because of the loopholes in my planning which have areas of expression missing that I now have to figure out to create an appropriate response.

"Norman Rig" Test animation Screen Cap

Some areas I'm focusing on is:

1. Gestures
2. Eye Accessing cues
3. Micro expressions
4. Timing

 While Animating  i have been using, Toy story 2, Monsters Inc and The road to El dorado as references, El dorado being one stronger because of the relationship of Miguel and Tulio is an ideal example of the scene I'm trying to create.

References Images; Monsters Inc, for hand gestures, Toy Story 2 of  Thinking Posing while El Dorado for Miguel's facial expression along with the atmosphere portrayed by both characters.

"Monsters Inc"

"Monsters Inc"

"Toy Story 2"

"The road to El Dorado"